Teeter-totter device.



W. S. TOTHILL.

TEETER TOTTER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16,1915.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.y WASHINGTUN. D. C

Patented 11111.18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE coLuMaM PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTGN. D. c

WILLIAM S. TOTHILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINCIS.

TEETER-TOTTER DEVICE.

Application filed Api-t1 1S, 1915.

To all 1li/1011i it may concern lle it known that l. \Yii.i.i.\ :u S.To'riiiLi.. a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented certain newund useful Improvements in 'leeter-Totter Devices, of which thefollowingr is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanyin(idrawings. y

ily invention relates to tceter-tottci devices` and it luis for one ofits objects the provision of new and improved means for cushioning andlimiting the movement of the swinging member relative to the standardupon which it is pivotally mounted.

It is another object of my invention to imirovo devices of this type. insundry dctails hereinafter pointed out.

The preferred means by which l have accomplished my objects areillustrated in the accompanying drawings and are hereinafterspecilically described. That which l believe to be new and desire tocover by this application is set forth in the claims.

In the drawing:.--Figure l is a side view of a toeter-totter deviceembodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top view of the device shown inFig. 1; Fig. i1 isa longitudinal vertical section through my device.being taken substantially on line 8-1 of Fig. 2: Fig. l is an enlargeddetail of one of the cushioning springs einploved. the. spring beingpartly broken away; Fig. 5 isa bottom plan view of the plate by whichthe swinging member of my device is pivotullv connected to thesupporting member: and Figs. t', T, and 8 are views similar to Fig. 3.hut showing three ditl'erent modifications of the device as shown inFigs. 1 to Referring to Figs. 1 to 5. in which corresponding parts areindicated by tlm same reference characters.--1O indicates a base of anysuitable type, from which rises the supporting member of my devicecomprising standards l1-12. The swinging member of my device, which ispivotally mounted upon the supporting standard 11-12. comprises a boardor bar 13 with a plate 14 mounted u )on its under face, the p ate 11being provided with bearing lugs 15 in which a shaft 16 is revolublymounted for supporting the bar member 13 in position upon the upper endof the standards 1l-1`2. livotally connected to the bur 151 anddependingl therefrom, one at each side of the pivot 1G, are two rodslT--l which extend througlrsnitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, i916.

Serial No. 21.756.

openings in sockets 15)-20 carried by the base l0. Threaded into thesockets lil- Q0 by means of threads formed on their inner faces are twocoiled springs :2l-22, respectively, said vsprings extending upward fromthe base about the said rods. Cups 2:3-21 are secured by means ofscrew-threads in the upper ends of the springs 2l-22, respectively, saidcaps being slidable freely upon the said rods. Bearing devices :Z5-26are secured upon euch ofthe rods at suitable distances, respectivelyabove and below the said caps, in the construction shown said bea ringdevices being in the form of collars adjustably secured in position bymeans of setscrews. (,)ther bearing devices 2T are scoured in anysuitable manner upon the lower ends of the rods.

With the collars 2B-.211 in their preferred adjustment upon the rodslT-lS substantially as shown in Fig. 3, when the bur 13 is swunrT inclockwise direction in Fig. 1, at a certain predetermined point in suchswinging movement the collar .25 is brought into engagement with the cap24. whereupon' the spring 22 cushions the further movement of the saidswinging member. Shortly after the bearing collar 25 is brought intocontact with the plate 24, the collar 2G is brought into contact withthe cap 23. serving upon the continued movement of the bar 13 to expandthe springr 2l. The. tension of the springs 2l-22 is such as to causesuch springs in many instances to yicldingly limit the swing of the bar13, but if the biii is forced to the limit of its cushioned movement inclockwise direction in Fig. 1, the bearing device 2T is brought intocontact with the lower face of the socket 19, serving positively to stopthe movement of the said bar. lV ien the bur 121 is swung in theopposite direction. the spring .21 will be lirst compressed, and thespring 22 thereafter expanded, the bearing device 2T on the rod 18serving to limit the swing by bein r brought into contact with theluider face olii the socket 20.

ln Fig. (l. which shows a modified form of my improved device. the partswhich coi'- respond to the parts of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5,are indicated by the same reference characters. but with the addition ofan exponent of The construction here shown is substantially the same asthat shown in Figs. 1 to 5, with the exception thatthe caps 23-2-l andthe bearing devices ltltr .26 and 2T are omitted, reliance being placedupon the springs QIQQ." alone for cushion` ing and limiting theiuoveinent of the har 13".

ln the construction shown in Fig. T, which shows another modilication ofthe construction of Figs. l to ."i,the parts which correspond to t iestruct-ure of Figs. 1 to 5 are indicated by the saine referencecharacters, but-with the addition of an exponent 1). In the constructionhere shown the sockets 19h- 120 open downwaid instead of upward as inFigs. l to 5. the springs 2lb- 22 eX- tending downward from the socketsinstead of rising therefrom. In this construction, tho free ends of thesprings :21"-22b are not provided with caps, the bearing devices iS-29carried by the rods 17h-1S at their lower ends being adapted to engagethe lower ends of the springs .21"-22b directly without the use of capsat the ends of the springs. As will be readily understoml, upon themovement of the bnr 13 in clockwise direction in Fig. 7 to a certainpredetermined limit, the eup .28 will be brought into contact with thespring 21 for cushioning the remainder of the swing of the bar in thatdirection. lVhen the bai' 13h is swung in the opposite direction. thespring 22 will be compressed by the bearing device 29.

In Fig. 8, which shows still another form of device, a swinging member30 is pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 31 upon the upper end of astandard 3:2 of a different design from that used in connection with theother devices. Bell crank levers Btl-34 are pivotally mounted upon lugsBfr-36, re` spectively, extending Arom opposite sides of thetransversely-extending plate 3T of the standard 32. Springs` :3S-39 aremounted in suitable sockets -41 on opposite sides of the plate 3T, withthe outer ends of which springs the lower ends of the bellcrank levers33-34 are adapted to contact. The horizontelly-extending arms of thesaid bellcrank levers are provided with rollers 42.- -l revolublymounted thereon. As will be readily understood. when the bar Il() isswung in clockwise direction in Fig. 8, the said har 3() or the plate 14by which the said bar is pivotall mounted upon the shaft B1 will bebrought into contact with the roller 43 of the bellcrank lever 34.causing the spring 39 to be compressed. Upon the movement of the bar 30in the opposite direction, the bellcrank lever 33 will ie swung againstthe action of the spring 3S, the springs 38-39 thus serving to cushionthe swing of the movable member in both directions.

By the use of mv improved bearing means comprising a ro extendingthrough the coiled spring employed, the spring is prevented frombuckling, the said bearing means servingA asa Guide, alon spring isstressed; I: do not wish to limit which the myself to the use of coiledsprings. however, or the use of hearing means in the form of rods asshown. except. as hereinafter s ieciiically claimed.

By tlhe use ot' the improved construction und arrangement illustrated inFigs. l to 5, each ot' the cushioning springs employed act-s to cushionthe swing of the moving member at the end of its stroke in eachdirection. making it possible. to accomplish the requisite cushioning bythe use of a single spring. I prefer, however, to use two springs, suchsirines being preferably arranged as shown in Figs. 1 to whereby eachspring assists the other in producing the complete cushioning effect. Inthe form of construction sliowli in Figs. l to 5 my improved devicesalso serve to limit the swing of the moving element, thus reducing to averv marked degree the danger incident to the use of a teeter-totterdevice.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersIatent, is,-

l. In a'teetcr-totter device, the coiiibimition of a standard, n barpivot-ally mounted on said standard, a spring mounted on one of saidmembers, bearing means interposed between said spring and the other ofsaid members, said bearing means being adapted to cause said spring tobe stressed by the movement of said bar to the limit of its movement inone direction but adapted to be relieved from pressure upon said springat the end of the movement of the bar in the other direction, andauxiliary bearing means cooperating with said lirst-nanied bearing meansadapted to cause said spring to be stressed in the opposite direction bythe movement of said bar to the limit of its movement in the oppositedirection.

2. In a teeter-totter device. the combina` tion of a standard, a barpivotally mounted on said'stundard, a spring mounted on one of saidmembers, and means pvotallv mounted on the other member actuated b v themovement of said bar to the limit of its movement in one direction toswing in contact with said spring for compressing the spring butvadapted to be relieved from pressure upon said spring at another portionof the swing of the said bar.

3. In a teeter-totter device. thc combination of n standard, a barpivotally mounted on said standard, a spring mounted on one of saidmembers, und means pivotally mounted on the other member adapted tocause said spring to be stressed b v the move` ment of said bar to thelimit of its movement in one direction but adapted to cause said springto be stressed in the opposite 'direction by the movement of the bar tothe limit of its movement in the opposite direction.

4. In a teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally mounted lll' on said standard, a coiled spring mounted on oneof said members, and a bearing device mounted upon the other of saidmembers, said bearing device being adapted to compress said spring upona movement of the bar to the 'limit of its movement in one direction andadapted to expand said spring upon a movement of the bar to the limit ofits movement in the other direction.

In a teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally1 mounted on said standard, a spring mounted on one of saidmembers, a rod pivotally connected With the other member, and meanscarried by said rod out of contact with said spring when the bar is atone limit of its siving but adapted to stress the spring for cushioningthe swing of the bar to the other limit of its movement.

6. In a teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally mounted on said standard, a spring mounted on one of saidmembers, a rod pivotally connected with the other member and extendingthrough a suitable opening provided by said spring, and bearing devicescarried by said rod at opposite sides of said opening, each of saidbearing devices being adapted to stress the spring upon a movement ofthe bar to the limit of its movement in one direction but adapted torelieve the pressure upon the spring at another portion of the movementof the bar.

7. In a teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally mounted on said standard, a coiled spring mounted at one endon one of said members, a rod pivotally connected with the other memberand extending through said spring, a cap fixed on the free end of saidspring about said rod but slidable relative to the rod, and bearingdevices carried by said rod at opposite sides of said cap, each of saidbearing devices being adapted to stress the spring upon a movement ofthe bar to the limit of its movement in one direction but adapted to berelieved of pressure upon the spring at another portion of the movementof the bar.

S. In a. teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally mounted on said standard, a coiled spring mounted at one endon one of said members, a rod pivotally connected with the other memberand extending through said spring, a cap fixed on the free end of saidspring about said rod but slidable relative to the rod, and bearingdevices carried by said rod at opposite sides of said cap and adjustablealong said rod toward and from the cap, each of said bearing devicesbeing adapted to stress the spring upon a movement of the bar to thelimit of its movement in one direction but adapted to be relieved ofpressure upon the spring at another portion of the movement of the bar.

9. In a teeter-totter device, the combination of a standard, a barpivotally mounted on said standard, a coiled spring mounted at one endon one of said members, a rod pivotally connected with the other memberand extending through said spring, a cap fixed on the free end of saidspring about said rod but slidable relative to the rod, bearing devicescarried by said rod at opposite sides of said cap, each of said bearingdevices being adapted to stress the spring upon a movement of the bar tothe limit of its movement in one direction but adapted to be relieved ofpressure upon the spring at another portion of the movement of the bar,and a third bearing device mounted on the said rod which is pivotallymounted on one of said members adapted to engage the other member forpositively limiting the swing of said bar.

l0. In a teeter-totter device, the combination ot a standard, a barpivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on said standard, yielding meansmounted on one of said members at one side of said axis, and bearingmeans operatively interposed between said yielding means and the otherof said members, said bearing means being adapted to cause said yieldingmeans to be stressed in one direction by the movement of said bar to thelimit of its movement in one direction and to cause said yielding meansto be stressed in the opposite direction by the movement of said bar tothe limit of its movement in the opposite direction.

WILLIAM S. TOTHILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 2D. C.

